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Harbor Development Committee

Meeting Minutes

Committees: Harbor Development Committee

Important Documents and Links:

• Harbor Master Plan Report (4.3 MB, PDF)
• Harbor Master Plan Handout  (124k, PDF)
• Harbor Plan Renderings (623k, PDF)
• Harbor Master Plan Image (299k, PDF)

2009 Annual Report

Waterfront access and issues continued to receive increased citizen involvement during the past year as many residents and guests recognized the unique and valuable resource of the Hingham Waterfront.

Hingham Inner Harbor was dredged after a 12-year gap and dangerous mud flats at low tides. Benefiting from the tight economy, the work was done for about half the estimated cost with the state providing 75% of the funds; the balance of funding comes from mooring fees and annual confirmation at Town Meeting. Dredging was completed by the end of February 2010 and provides reliable depths of 7 feet at mean low water.

The work of the Harbor Development Committee was supplemented by a Selectmen-appointed Task Force to ensure input from the many boards, committees and stakeholders. Members of the Harbor Committee, Planning Board, Bathing Beach, Industrial Development Committee and Selectmen’s Office met regularly with the Harbormaster and Town Planner to look at the issues from all viewpoints.

The Harbormaster worked with the committee to draft an updated set of mooring regulations. Revised layout of the inner harbor and World’s End mooring fields will allow more boats to be accommodated within these confined areas. For the first time in over 30 years, nearly all boaters on the waiting list for an inner harbor location will be accommodated, and the town benefits with the additional mooring fees and excise taxes
Revenues and funding of harbor activities continues to receive attention, with new fees scheduled for smaller boats (13 – 17 feet) previously exempt and for public and private ‘10A’ or anchored floats. There is increased interest in establishing an Enterprise Fund to formally link Harbor and waterfront revenues and their associated costs.

Our committee worked with and supported the Conservation Commission to develop a thorough and careful approach for permitting of new docks and piers along the waterfront. The issues involve tradeoffs of individual homeowners to maximize the enjoyment and value of their property vs. the impact on environmental, navigation, safety and aesthetic issues.

After many years of contending with Geese and their droppings, we are optimistic that some action may be taken. Working with the Harbor Task Force, the Selectmen’s Office and a private dog-handler, we hope to start a control program this spring. Funding will be from donations from citizens and groups that have contended with the mess for too long.

Funding limitations, both within the Town and the State, have meant a pullback on two intended projects; improvements to the Launch Ramp that would allow boaters to tie-up while parking or retrieving the vehicle; and expansions to the Town Dock that would allow for a few transient slips and a dingy dock. Our hope is to keep these projects visible.

Two long-standing objectives for the harbor area - enhanced public access and handicap-accessible public restrooms are still at the top of the Harbor Development priority list. The committee has endorsed the proposed leasing of non-exclusive parking for Bare Cove Marina and sees this as an appropriate step in public/private partnerships for the benefit of all.

During the past year, we noted with regret the passing of former HDC Chairman Jim Doyle and former member Warren Nottleson.